The event was held at Dr. Soad Jaber’s house, an active member of Alkalemah Society. It was attended by intellectuals, academics and supporters of Alkalemah Society.

The three speakers reviewing “Alzheimer’s” included Dr. Fatina Shaker, an academic and former sociology professor at King Abdulaziz University and former editor in chief of Sayyidaty Magazine, Dr. Amira  Kashgari, Alkalemah member and columnist at Al-Watan newspaper and assistant professor of linguistics at the girls college of King Abdulaziz University and Dr. Amal Shata, also member of Alkalemah Society, pediatrician, novelist and columnist.

Dr. Najat Alsayigh, a faculty member at King Abdulaziz University and columnist in Al-Madinah newspaper introduced the members of Alkalemah Society and highlighted the objectives of the members before moderating the highly intellectual and critical reading of the last work of Al-Gosaibi, the former minister of labor and renowned Saudi poet and novelist.

The women believed that reviewing Al-Gosaibi’s literary submissions was a “national obligation.” Shaker believed that Al-Gosaibi himself did not go through the experiences mentioned in the story.

According to Kashgari, Al-Gosaibi did not have a “normal personality, instead he had multiple capabilities and skills.” According to her, there is no exact classification that fits “Alzheimer’s,” as it is neither a bibliography nor a novel.

Some critics, she said, confuse the hero in the story with Al-Gosaibi himself. “I have read a recent critique in which a critic is still attacking Al-Gosaibi, despite his death, and is accusing him of Westernization and promoting mingling.”

Al-Gosaibi was not able to see the story in its final print and had written it while being treated, which has led many critics to believe that the story reflects on his own experience with the illness. Kashgari explained that the story also “sheds light on Saudi society as it deals with social ills such as hypocrisy.”

The story, believed Kashgari, leaves a final impression that we all as humans, no matter what positions we hold and what social status we obtain, have something inside us that unites us regardless even of our genders, but we do not recognize that until it’s too late.”

The 12 members of Al-Kalemah Society are Saudi activists from media, academic and literary backgrounds with an objective to promote the literary culture among Saudi women and project Saudi art and literature through the spoken and written word in order to influence change and spread awareness nationwide.